"Border Patrol agents rescue, airlift snakebite victim"


Original in the Kinney County Post -- a.k.a. "The Good News Newspaper" -- September 21, 2010.


"DEL RIO, Texas -- A 46 - year - old Guatemalan national is recovering, in a SanAntonio hospital, from a rattlesnake bite following a harrowing trek through inhospitable terrain Saturday.

"U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Carrizo Springs Border Patrol Station responded to a report of a snakebite incident at 10:20 a.m. Saturday after being contacted by a local oilfield worker.

"Randy Clark, patrol agent in charge of the Carrizo Springs Station, said the worker was approached by a 15 - year -old Honduran, who reported his traveling companion had been bitten by a rattlesnake the previous day, and was in a remote area in need of help.

"Clark noted that recent outreach efforts with oil and gas workers proved crucial to getting help to the injured man in an expeditious manner.

"Carrizo Springs agents quickly arrived at the oilfield worker's location and picked up the Honduran juvenile, who led them to where he left the victim -- a remote area four miles north of Mines Road in Maverick County.

"Agents provided first aid to the victim -- who had been bitten on the right ankle -- and called for air support from Customs and Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine.

"The victim was taken by local ambulance to the Dimmit County Memorial Hospital.

"He was later airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio.

"Dean Sinclair, acting chief patrol agent, Del Rio Sector, lauded the actions of the agents involved in the rescue.

"Sinclair said, Were it not for the quick response and superior knowledge of the geography of the area, this case could have had a tragic outcome.."

Sinclair now goes on to make some good points:

"The area where this occurred is some of the harshest terrain throughout the entire Del Rio sector.

"This incident, once again, illustrates the many dangers of crossing the border illegally..."